The Raven Staff

Rochelle has worked at The Raven for 18 years and also worked at another bookstore for 22 years after college. Armed with a BA in English Literature and a love of reading, she thought bookselling would be a grand way to spend her time—and she still feels that way.

Julie Trowbridge-Alford, former social worker, is a lover of books and delighted to be working at Raven Book Store where she has worked for over 2 years. Originally from NYC, she was taught to read by her older sister at 3 ½, and remembers getting her library card at 5 when she could write her name! She is the mother of Sarah and David, and lives with her partner 5 minutes from downtown on 120 acres which she says brings peace to her life every evening and morning. At this point in her life she finds she's reading more non-fiction, including biographies, and for relaxation, good mysteries, but life is a journey and being curious, who knows what she'll be reading next.

In addition to her part-time work at the Raven--which she has found consistently interesting and soulful work for the last 12 years--Kelly is a freelance writer. She and her partner Lisa Grossman live in Old West Lawrence. She has an MFA in writing from the University of Montana. Primarily a non-fiction reader, some of her favorite authors are nature writers Bernd Heinrich, Terry Tempest Williams, Rachel Carson, and Michael Pollan; essayists E.B. White and Anne Lamott; and theologians Marcus Borg, Frederick Buechner, Matthew Fox and Shelby Spong.

Sarah Young has been working at the Raven since 2002. She loves to recommend new mysteries, fiction and children's books.

Judd originated a few miles east of the odorous shores of the Great Salt Lake. He and his special lady came to Lawrence in August 2009 so that she could pursue an MFA at KU. Judd graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in political science, where he spent the majority of his time wondering why he didn't major in literature. He writes a bit on the side and considers David Foster Wallace to pretty much be the best thing to ever put ink to paper.

Caitlin is a feminist, writer, and Kansas native who loves to travel. She is currently working on her MFA at the University of Kansas, writing fiction and non-fiction. After some morning coffee or tea, she is the Managing Editor for Beecher's Literary Journal, and a Graduate Teaching Assistant. On Saturday mornings, she likes to go to the farmer's market, where someone once told her she had a map of Ireland on her face.